MOTIVATION: This exam is just not about knowledge or studying it’s also about holding one’s own nerve in tough times – By Sachin Gupta Rank – 3, CSE-2017

This exam is just not about knowledge or studying it’s also about holding one’s own nerve in tough times

By Sachin Gupta Rank – 3, CSE-2017

Finally UPSC results are out on 27th of April 2018, many have secured rank but many have not been able to make it into the list. Again, the race against time has started to crack this exam. I have been in this situation in last three years and I can understand all the demotivation, frustration and anxiety that one goes through just before each stage. The element of uncertainty may be making you worried with each passing day.

First and foremost thing i would like to communicate is just appreciate all these emotions, and it’s normal to have them. I believe everybody goes through it. Whenever you are going through the moments of low, try to speak it out with our well-wishers. Even if they don’t know about UPSC or Civil Services, try to talk with them, try to appreciate moments of success with them. Try to ingrain positive vibes from others. Trust me, it works and one needs to feel good about oneself to keep going.

Further, since only three weeks are left in actual prelims examination, try to schedule it properly. Make plan for 2 weeks; divide it into weekly and daily plans. Firstly it will help you overcoming the anxiety with a sense of mental peace that things will be covered after two weeks and i would still be left with 1 week to further enhance my preparation level and otherwise also it will help you visualize revising all the important things. However, one piece of advice i would like to give is – all of you seriously stick to basics in last three weeks, don’t get swayed by the innumerable material coming into market. Stick to the resources you originally studied and keep revising.

When you start thinking more and more about tomorrow and about succeeding, the reverse thing happens – you start losing confidence and the goal starts appearing distant. Your fear makes it appear big and insurmountable. That’s why, to keep your motivations high, prepare a small action plan for today and follow it. This is the time when you need to “Stick to basic and keep revising”.

Moving forward, always believe in one thing, people who love you or like you will always adore you and appreciate the hard work & purpose for which you are doing. And people who don’t they will not .no matter whatever you achieve in your life. See, the biggest pressure that we feel most of the time is from society, which remains imaginary. Don’t think much about what people will say but why you are doing these things, the purpose for which you are doing. Talk to your parents, friends, teachers, mentors and well-wishers, keep one’s spirit high.

This exam is just not about knowledge or studying it’s also about holding one’s own nerve in tough times. Imagine yourself in the grave situations of riots and put oneself into the shoes to an IAS or IPS officer responsible to maintaining law and order. There, keeping oneself calm and sticking to the basics will be the key. That I believe this exam indirectly tries to imbibe these through different phases.

I would like to conclude this article with the poem by a famous poet (Sohan Lal Dwivedi ji), that I used to hear a lot whenever i feel low: